Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area in Promised Land State Park offers specialized camping facilities for those traveling with horses. The campground features electric hookups, water hookups, and sewer hookups for RV campers while providing access for tent campers as well. The park maintains restrooms with showers and toilets for visitor comfort, along with picnic tables at each site. Large sites accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. The campground's location near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area makes it a convenient base for equestrian exploration. Sites are reservable in advance and permit pets, allowing riders to bring their canine companions along with their horses.
Located approximately 30 miles from Delaware Water Gap, the equestrian area provides access to multiple trail systems suitable for horseback riding. The park connects to a network of bridle paths through forested terrain, offering rides ranging from beginner-friendly flat trails to more challenging routes with elevation changes. Riders appreciate the well-maintained paths and clear trail markings throughout the area. Campsite selection should account for trailer size and horse containment needs, as some sites accommodate larger rigs better than others. The campground's facilities remain accessible during most of the year, though availability may be limited during winter months. Nearby water sources provide convenient access for watering horses, while the reservation system helps ensure adequate space for equestrian camping groups.
"It was a solid choice: private but close to the toilet and water. Some sites located around the opposite side of the ring back up to a babbling brook. The rushing water will soothe you to sleep."
"We stayed at the campsite at Lake Ocquittunk Area. Campsite was very spacious and had a platform where we were able to fit two tents. There was plenty of space on the site for more tents."
from $7 - $55 / night
"We stayed at site #T007 is was a short walk from the car to the site, but so worth it for many reasons."
"The caping set up was nice and I enjoyed the proximity to available hikes in the area. The ‘lake’ however, was kind of a disappointment."
"If you're there in the summer, I'd recommend taking a kayak around the lake and filling it with wild blueberries. Lots of hiking options as well."
"The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also."
from $5 - $75 / night
"3 hour drive from NYC, and a wonderful campsite with good weather in the summer - not too hot during the day and nice and cool overnight."
"We stayed in lower lake beechwood site 323. Was decent site only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs, otherwise it’s a nice wooded site with privacy."
from $31 - $33 / night
from $29 / night
"I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. "
"We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important."
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
"This location was about an hour and a half away from our home so it was far enough to feel like we were getting away but close enough that we could be home quickly in case of an emergency since we decided"
from $125 / night
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
GuideStayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
TravelerThe state park is beautiful. The site was very nice. The park itself is very big with many activities available such as boat rentals and a swimming pool. There's also an amphitheatre which hosts specials. During our stay the only activity we made it to was the pool. The main reason we didn't do more was the distance. We have a motorhome so we didn't have additional vehicles to get to and from places. We walked to the park which according to my Fitbit was 1.5 miles away. That doesn't seem too bad until you realize it's mostly hills in both directions! We are a fairly active young family who has no problem with a bit of a walk but after that experience we decided to just spend the remainder of our trip hanging out at our site. It's a good thing we only stayed 2 nights because our 10 year old might've lost his mind with boredom if we stayed longer. Overall, the site we had was great and I'd recommend it. My husband and I may come back for a couples date weekend.
RangerI've visited the MOC a bunch of times, and have taken training classes here also. There are campsites for tent camping, cabin stays where you can rent a whole cabin or rent a bunk in a cabin with others. There is a store as well as food options. It's a great place to visit whether you grab a meal, a bunk, or just take a hike. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here also.
TravelerWe’re here for the Rock, Ribs, and Ridges festival and what a great experience! Make sure to bring a 50’ power cord as the hook ups are grouped together on telephone poles rather than at each individual site. As far as I know camping is only available during select events.
GuideWe stayed at a tent platform site in Shotwell camping area. The platforms could use a little maintenance as there were a few tie down hooks that were missing or corroded. The campsites are close around this loop that includes lean-tos, but not so close that you are bothered by your neighbors normal sounds. The bathroom is close and clean. There is a bear box at each campsite which gave peace of mind. Firewood is available for sale at the park office. The staff there is very welcoming. Great Jersey getaway with gorgeous hiking trails.
GuideStayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers. Nice play area for kids, water craft rentals, nice lake. Plenty of picnic areas for day trips.
GuideThere are four campgrounds that are all pretty different, we stayed at Shotwell across from the pond. For the most part, each campsite has its own porta potty or it shared with a couple other sites. At the entrance of the campground, there is a bathhouse with running water, bathrooms, and potable water. We stayed in one of the RV areas across the pond. It was peaceful to hear the frogs chirping at night, but definitely didn’t think about how many more bugs the pond would bring, probably wouldn’t stay at that specific spot again even though it’s really pretty. Most of the campsites were very rocky, but you can find some that have a little bit of grass. We came on a Friday night. Everyone was up pretty late, but was not crazy loud. The rest of the weekend it seemed like everyone’s simmered down. The campground was full of mostly families. If you wanted to shower, you would have to head to the group campsite not too far but you need to drive. We don’t typically expect to have a campgrounds with a ton of amenities. Potable water and a toilet is really all we need. Overall, it was a great time gorgeous park. Also took a few pictures of the cabins in Shotwell. I wouldn’t personally rent one, but I guess if your winter camping it has a little fireplace and will keep you dry and somewhat warm.
TravelerStokes is my go-to state park for unplugging and enjoying time with my family. We brought our son (23 months at time of visit) on his first camping trip this past September. He loved every minute of it.
Site T07 in Lake Ocquittunk is gorgeous and one of the few relatively secluded sites in the campground. You need to carry your gear down a narrow, rocky path that's a little steep near the road, but it's manageable. There's also a graded path into the site adjacent to a neighboring site, but you should check with those campers if they are ok with you cutting through to use it. (We opted not to disturb our neighbors and take the slope.)
I thought I would be able to launch my kayak from site 7 since it's waterfront, but there are a lot of huge rocks in the water that prevent you from getting out into the lake. We had to find a different launch spot. That was probably the biggest disappointment for us.
Still, I love site 7 and it's absolutely worth the privacy and the views every morning.
GuideStokes State Forest is a beautiful park with a lot of different trails to check out, though some of them are difficult to access due to parking. The camping areas are split between two different entrances. If you’re in Lake Ocquitunk, like I was, you don’t enter at the main entrance, you have to go past the main entrance about another mile on rt. 15 N. and enter by the YMCA. All the other camping areas are near the main entrance by the forest office. The campsites themselves are a little too close together in some spots with little coverage or privacy. There is a day parking area which is only accessible going through the main entrance by the forest office— if you visit during the week park entrance is free, but on the weekend fees can be a bit steep. I wasn’t super happy with my campsite as I wasn’t able to physically have my car on the site like I thought. I had to park in a small lot above my campsite and carry my belongings down a short slope to the site. I like to car-camp so this was a bit of a let down having my car separate from my actual campsite.
The bathrooms were nice and had flush toilets, but the showers were out of service during my time. Bathrooms are extremely spaced out so you will have to walk a far distance unless you strategically choose a site next to one. I drove through the other campsite and only saw 1 set of bathrooms that had toilets and showers per campground, not including the outhouses I saw for those in the small cabins.
The Lower Lake Campground Hemlock Hill Equestrian Area accommodates trail riders exploring the Pennsylvania woodlands. Located in the northern Pocono plateau region, the campground sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation in a mature hardwood forest. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through February, with summer highs typically reaching the mid-80s.
Trail riding opportunities: The region surrounding Promised Land State Park offers equestrians access to several trail systems. Many riders appreciate the trail variety, as one visitor to Ocquittunk notes: "We stayed at site #T007... the site itself is huge and we were able to position our tent facing the lake, it was beautiful!"
Explore adjacent conservation lands: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area connects to multiple protected areas, expanding riding options. At Mohican Outdoor Center, a camper mentioned, "The Group Campsite was really big. It had 5-6 platforms, privys, big fire ring, a grill, a beatbox, a large pavilion w/picnic tables and a real full sized bathroom only 100 yards away."
Winter activities: Unlike many campgrounds that close seasonally, some equestrian facilities remain open year-round. A visitor to Beechwood Area shared: "First trip of the season and we were amazed. Not crowded this time of year, serene, and perfect weather. We collected our own firewood as there is none for sale in the state park."
Spacious sites for trailers: Most equestrian camping areas provide extra room for horse trailers and tack. At Stokes State Forest's Lake Ocquittunk, a camper observed that "The bathrooms are clean and nicely placed. The sites had a fire ring with a cooking grate and a picnic table and were well spaced out from other sites."
Clean facilities: Riders appreciate well-maintained bathhouses after a day on the trails. A visitor to Pickerel Point Campground remarked, "The bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," while another noted the "gorgeous campsites along the water."
Multiple water access points: Several campgrounds feature lakeside sites that allow watering horses without lengthy walks. One camper at Pickerel Point stated, "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper. The trails were beautiful, recommend little falls trail."
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak riding seasons. One camper at Mountainview Campground advised, "I reserved two nights, but the first night we were not going to be able to arrive until after 9. After talking to them, they would not allow us to come late, but did refund the first night."
Site selection considerations: Some sites accommodate larger rigs better than others. Choose carefully based on your trailer dimensions. A camper at Stokes State Forest observed, "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs."
Weather variables: The mountain terrain creates diverse microclimates that can change quickly. A camper at Pickerel Point reported, "I spent the night in the Promised Land State Park at Pickerel Point and it was so pretty and quiet... Mine overlooked the water and had a gorgeous sunset."
Child-friendly amenities: Some equestrian areas include activities for children who aren't riding. A visitor to Pickerel Point mentioned, "Loved camping on Pickerel Point. Kids had a great time! Bathrooms could be cleaned more often but relatively clean. The museum and crafts were closed due to Covid so that was a bummer but we found other things to do."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer ranger-led programs about local wildlife and ecology. At Keen Lake Resort, a camper shared, "My boys absolutely love it and always have something to do. They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day!"
Safety considerations: Parents should be aware of potential natural hazards when camping with children in horse country. A visitor to Stokes State Forest cautioned, "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes."
Hookup availability: Electric service varies significantly between equestrian camping areas. A camper at Beechwood Area reported, "I stayed at the Beechwood location at the Promised Land state park and despite the constant rain, it was quiet and peaceful. You could only ever hear the wildlife. The RV pads were spaced put perfectly and we all had our own picnic table and fire pit."
Leveling challenges: Some equestrian sites have uneven terrain that requires preparation. A Beechwood Area visitor noted, "We stayed in lower lake beechwood site 323. Was decent site only downside was fire pit area was very un-level for camping chairs, otherwise it's a nice wooded site with privacy."
Sanitation concerns: Dumping stations may have limited availability during shoulder seasons. At Mountainview Campground, a camper advised, "This is a smallish campground with many seasonal spots and some rental spots. Our spot was #27 and pretty spacious. The showers were free and clean with hot water and decent pressure. The power station was well intact with 15/20, 30, and 50amp."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is Stokes State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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